Deletions involving regions of chromosome 10 occur in the vast majority (> 90%) of human glioblastoma multiformes. A region at chromosome 10q23-24 was implicated to contain a tumour suppressor gene and the identification of homozygous deletions in four glioma cell lines further refined the location. We have identified a gene, designated MMAC1, that spans these deletions and encodes a widely expressed 5.5-kb mRNA. The predicted MMAC1 protein contains sequence motifs with significant homology to the catalytic domain of protein phosphatases and to the cytoskeletal proteins, tensin and auxilin. MMAC1 coding-region mutations were observed in a number of glioma, prostate, kidney and breast carcinoma cell lines or tumour specimens. Our results identify a strong candidate tumour suppressor gene at chromosome 10q23.3, whose loss of function appears to be associated with the oncogenesis of multiple human cancers.

Identification of a candidate tumour suppressor gene, MMAC1 , at chromosome 10q23.3 that is mutated in multiple advanced cancers

Publisher Summary As normal cells progress to tumorigenicity, they must develop two distinct new characteristics not possessed by the normal cells from which they arise: they must become able to multiply without restraint and they must be able to create in vivo an environment where this newly acquired growth potential can be realized. Normal cells are antiangiogenic, because they secrete only low levels of inducers of angiogenesis and high levels of molecules that inhibit neovascularization. These cells develop into successful tumors that are potently angiogenic and secrete high levels of a cocktail of molecules that induce neovascularization. It is possible to halt the production and/or release of angiogenic activity by tumor cells themselves using retinoic acid and similar compounds. Endothelial cells that form the vessels that support tumor growth can be disabled in two distinct ways. Antiangiogenic agents have distinct advantages over conventional cytotoxic cancer therapies. Although the importance of angiogenesis to the growth of tumors is now well established, the mechanism by which tumor cells develop this crucial ability to attract new blood vessels is just beginning to be explored. Available data suggest that the angiogenic phenotype develops gradually as a result of many of the same genetic changes in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are also responsible for the deregulation of cell growth. The inhibitors of angiogenesis offer a new and promising avenue for tumor therapy.

How tumors become angiogenic

PTEN/MMAC1/TEP1 is a tumor suppressor that possesses intrinsic phosphatase activity. Deletions or mutations of its encoding gene are associated with a variety of human cancers. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which this important tumor suppressor regulates cell growth. Here, we show that PTEN expression potently suppressed the growth and tumorigenicity of human glioblastoma U87MG cells. The growth suppression activity of PTEN was mediated by its ability to block cell cycle progression in the G1 phase. Such an arrest correlated with a significant increase of the cell cycle kinase inhibitor p27KIP1 and a concomitant decrease in the activities of the G1 cyclin-dependent kinases. PTEN expression also led to the inhibition of Akt/protein kinase B, a serine-threonine kinase activated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) signaling pathway. In addition, the effect of PTEN on p27KIP1 and the cell cycle can be mimicked by treatment of U87MG cells with LY294002, a selective inhibitor of PI 3-kinase. Taken together, our studies suggest that the PTEN tumor suppressor modulates G1 cell cycle progression through negatively regulating the PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway, and one critical target of this signaling process is the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/95/26/15406.full.pdf

PTEN/MMAC1/TEP1 suppresses the tumorigenicity and induces G1 cell cycle arrest in human glioblastoma cells

Cloning, expression, and distribution of functionally distinct Ca2+-activated K+ channel isoforms from human brain

Human prostate cancer cell lines are particularly difficult to establish, and most existing cell lines do not exhibit features commonly seen in human prostate cancer. Most available models either grow only in vivo as xenografts or are androgen insensitive and fail to express prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The lack of functionally relevant model systems of advanced prostate cancer has limited prostate cancer research and therapy development. Of 30 processed samples derived from patients with prostate cancer, we established two cell lines (MDA PCa 2a and MDA PCa 2b) that express PSA and androgen receptor, grow in vitro, and are androgen sensitive. Cells from these lines produced tumors in nude mice when injected either s. c. or orthotopically (intraprostatic). Both cell lines were established from a bone metastasis of a patient whose cancer was exhibiting androgen-independent growth. Although both were derived from two samples of the same specimen, they have different genetic features (as assessed by karyotype analysis) and different phenotypes (e.g., morphology and growth rate). It is likely that they are distinct clones isolated by the use of different culture procedures and reflect the genetic heterogeneity of the tumor. These new cell lines are the first available derived from a bone metastasis of an androgen-independent prostatic adenocarcinoma that grow both in vivo and in vitro and have retained PSA expression and androgen sensitivity. They therefore constitute important model systems to address critical questions related to the androgen-independent growth of human prostate cancer and to the complex process of bone metastasis.

https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/clincanres/3/12/2493.full.pdf

Establishment of two human prostate cancer cell lines derived from a single bone metastasis.

Molecular and cytogenetic analyses of primary brain tumors have shown that losses on chromosome 10 occur very frequently in human glioblastoma multiforme suggesting the presence of a glioma-associated tumor suppressor gene on this chromosome. To examine this hypothesis, a copy of chromosome 10 derived from a human fibroblast cell line was introduced into the human glioma cell line U251 by microcell-mediated chromosomal transfer. A human chromosome 2 was also independently introduced into U251 cells. The presence of novel chromosomes or chromosomal fragments was confirmed by molecular and karyotypic analyses. The hybrid clones containing a transferred chromosome 10 exhibited a suppression of their transformed and tumorigenic phenotype in vivo and in vitro, whereas cells containing a transferred chromosome 2 failed to alter their phenotype. The hybrid cells containing a transferred chromosome 10 displayed a significant decrease in their saturation density and an altered cellular morphology at high cell density but only a slight decrease in their exponential growth rate. A dramatic decrease was observed in the ability of cells with an introduced chromosome 10 to grow in soft agarose. The introduction of chromosome 10 completely suppressed tumor formation when the hybrid cells were injected into nude mice. These findings indicate that chromosome 10 harbors a tumor suppressor gene that is directly involved in glioma oncogenesis.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/53/20/5043.full.pdf

Analysis of the Functional Role of Chromosome 10 Loss in Human Glioblastomas

The growth inhibitory effects of exogenously added retinoic acid (RA) on various cultured human glioma cells was observed to be heterogenous, with an ID50 ranging from 10−7 M to no response. The protein tyrosine kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-receptor) appeared to parallel the cell's growth responsiveness to RA. Cells sensitive to RA-induced growth inhibition exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in EGF-receptor activity, whereas RA-resistant cells showed no alterations in EGF-receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity or expression. The modulation of EGF-receptor by RA was further examined with RA-sensitive (LG) and -resistant (NG-1 ) cell lines. Both cell lines were approximately equal in their ability to bind and internalize epidermal growth factor in the presence or absence of RA. Several independent assays suggested that the inhibition of EGF-receptor activity was independent of protein kinase C modulation as mediated by phorbol myristate acetate. However, alterations in associated glycoconjugates of EGF-receptor were observed among the sensitive cells but not the resistant cells. These results suggest RA-induced growth inhibition in sensitive cells may arise, at least in part, through alterations in EGF-receptor activity and structure.

Azra Hadi

Papers

Analysis of the Functional Role of Chromosome 10 Loss in Human Glioblastomas

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor activity by retinoic acid in glioma cells

Molecular, genetic, and biologic aspects of primary brain tumors